“Don’t get mad.”
“Too late. I’m already furious!” I snapped. “You know better than this. I’ve taught you better than this.”
He looked up at me as he replied, “This doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
“Are you kidding me?” I threw my hands up in disbelief. “This has everything to do with me. You’re my son. My child to raise, and clearly, I haven’t done a good job.”
“That’s not true.”
“Then, explain it to me. I need to understand why you did this, Corry, cause right now, I don’t feel like I have a clue what’s going on with you.” His dark eyes filled with tears as I said, “I never dreamed you would be vaping, much less smoking marijuana.”
“Mom, everybody vapes. So, yeah, it’s not a big deal.”
“No, it is a big deal,” I argued. “You are fifteen years old, and you have no clue what those vapes are doing to your lungs. They are dangerous.”
“It’s just a little steam and nicotine, but whatever.” He turned to look at the wall, avoiding eye contact as he mumbled, “I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
“I’m trying to, Corry. Really I am.” I reached out and took hold of his arm, tugging him over to the bed. Once he was seated next to me, I placed my hand on his knee and said, “Was buying the marijuana your idea or your friends?”
“It was theirs, but don’t go and get it in your head that they’re bad or something ‘cause they’re not. Evan and Jace are my friends, and they’re good guys. Really good guys.”
“Good guys don’t use drugs, Corry.”
“Everyone smokes pot, Mom.”
“No. Everyone doesn’t smoke pot, Corry. Especially when they’re only fifteen and too young to know how to deal with the side effects of a narcotic.”
“I just...”
“This isn’t okay, Corry, and there’s nothing you can say to make me believe otherwise. Not only is marijuana illegal, it’s a mind-altering drug, and I will not have you using it. Not now, not ever. Is that understood?”
“Yeah...understood.”
“And just so we’re clear, you are grounded for the next month.”
“A month?” he complained.
“Yes, a month. No hanging out with your friends. You go to school and come straight home. That’s it. You got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And I want you to see a counselor.”
“Come on, Mom. I don’t want to see another counselor. They don’t do anything...They just ask stupid questions. It’s a waste of time.”
“It will be different this time. You’ll see.” I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder. “I love you, Corry. I know there’s a reason behind all this, and I want us to work together to find out what it is. You willing to do that for me?”
His eyes dropped to the floor, and after several moments, he finally nodded. “Yeah, I’m in.”
“Great.” I wound my arms around him and pulled him close, hugging him tightly. “We’re going to get through this. You’ll see.”
“It’s not like I have cancer or something, Mom. I bought a little pot with my buddies.” He pulled back, and when he saw the expression on my face, he held up his hands in surrender. “I won’t do it again. I swear it.”
“Good, I’m going to hold you to that.” I stood, and on my way out the door, I told him, “Finish cleaning up in here. It’s a nightmare.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I left his room and went straight to my office. I pulled up my laptop and looked up Dr. Archer. When I saw all the rave reviews, I sent him an email, telling him about Officer Reynolds suggesting that I reach out to him about Corry. I told him all about our situation and left him my cell phone number, asking for him to call with his next available appointment. As soon as I was done, I closed the laptop and went to bed. I was exhausted and ready to call it a day.
The following day, I received a call from Dr. Archer. Turned out that he had a cancelation at ten that morning. I hated for Corry to miss school, but I knew it was important for us to get started. Besides, Dr. Archer had made it pretty clear he was booked up. He let me know right away that it would be several weeks before we could get an afternoon appointment, so I set up several morning appointments for this week and next, then several more afternoon appointments for the weeks after.
The following days were hectic, but good. I was actually feeling pretty good about things until later in the week when I was hit with another unexpected surprise. I’d gone to pick up Sean from basketball practice—something I’d done a hundred times before. That night was like any other. As soon as I got to the school, I parked and lay my head back. It wasn’t long before my mind start drifting, and I found myself thinking about Corry. He hadn’t been happy about missing school to see Dr. Archer, especially three times in a row, but after that third appointment, he seemed to be feeling a little better about things. I, on the other hand, was still a nervous wreck and worried something was terribly wrong with my son. I didn’t know if I was doing enough to help him, but at the same time, I didn’t know what else I could do. I felt so torn. By the time Sean made it to the car, I was on the verge of tears. I didn’t want him to know I was upset, so I put on a brave face and smiled as I watched him buckle his seat belt. As I pulled out of the school’s parking lot, I asked, “How was practice?”